INTRAVENOUS

FLUID (IV FLUIDS)

What are IV fluids?

◦IV fluids are liquids injected into a person’s veins

through an IV (intravenous) tube.

◦They prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte

imbalances.
Why are intravenous fluids used?
◦Water is essential to every cell in our bodies. In fact, our
bodies are made up of about 60% water.

◦When you donʼt have enough water in your body, thatʼs

called dehydration.

◦A person needs IV fluids when they become dangerously

dehydrated.
Why are intravenous fluids used?
◦Serious dehydration may occur when you:
•Are sick (vomiting and diarrhea).
•Exercise too much or spend too much time in the heat
without drinking enough.
•Have a serious injury or burns.
•Have surgery, especially when youʼre asleep for a long
time or are unable to eat or drink.
What happens during rehydration with IV fluids?
If you need IV fluids, a healthcare provider will:
◦ Decide the type of IV fluid you need.
◦ Determine the amount of fluid you need and how quickly.
This is based on many factors, including your weight, age and
medical conditions.
◦ Disinfect (clean) the skin where the IV will go, usually on the
inside of the elbow or on top of the hand.
◦ Tie an elastic band (tourniquet) around your arm to make
blood fill the veins.
◦ Examine the veins to find the exact insertion site.
◦ Slide a sterile needle into the vein, which may pinch. The
needle will have a small plastic tube at the other end.
What happens during rehydration with IV
fluids?
• Remove the tourniquet.
• Place a small plastic attachment onto the tube.
• Test the tube to make sure a little bit of fluid can go in.
• Tape the IV needle to your arm so that it stays in place.
• Attach the small tube to a longer tube, and then attach it to a bag of fluids.
• Hang the bag from a hook on a tall stand (called an IV stand).
• Turn on a machine that will pump the fluid into the IV line.
• Check your IV line regularly and monitor the amount of fluid entering your body.
What are the advantages and risks of
this procedure?
◦ IV rehydration is a common, simple and safe procedure that can make you feel better
quickly and help save your life if you are seriously ill.
◦ But rare complications can occur, including:
• Air embolism: An air embolism, or gas embolism, occurs when an IV pushes too much air
into the vein. Itʼs rare but can have serious consequences, including possible death.
• Collapsed vein: Sometimes, the vein collapses when the needle is inserted or when an IV is
in place for a long period of time. If this happens, your healthcare provider will try to find
another vein to use. There are many other veins to take over for the collapsed vein.
• Fluid overload: If too much fluid is given too quickly, you can experience headache, high
blood pressure and trouble breathing. This usually resolves quickly with an adjustment to
fluid levels. But it can be dangerous.
What are the advantages and risks of
this procedure?
• Hematoma: A hematoma occurs when blood leaks from the blood vessel into
nearby tissues. It looks like a bad bruise and usually goes away in a few weeks.
• Infection: If the area is not clean when the needle is inserted, infection may
occur. Your healthcare provider can usually treat infections with antibiotics.
• Infiltration: If the needle moves or gets dislodged, fluids can enter tissues
around the vein. This may cause stinging and bruising, but itʼs typically easy to
resolve.
• Phlebitis: Phlebitis occurs when the vein becomes swollen because of the IV.
Itʼs one of the more common complications, but itʼs usually easily treatable by
removing the IV, applying a warm compress and elevating the arm.
Osmosis is the movement of a solvent, usually water, through a
semipermeable membrane from a low concentration of solution to a
high concentration solution.
◦If a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will be
attracted to the environment and leave the cell, and the cell
will shrink.
◦In an isotonic environment, there is the same amount of
water on each side, so there is no change in the size of the
cell.
◦When a cell is placed in a hypotonic environment, water
will enter the cell, and the cell will swell.
IVF COMPUTATION
HOURS TO RUN

◦ MACROSET (ADULT)

❑ VOLUME OF SOLUTION x 15 gtts/ml

gtt/min x 60 min/hr

◦ MICROSET (PEDIA)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION x 60gtts/ML

gtt/min x 60 min/hr
EXAMPLE

◦1. Calculate the hours to run in administering D5LR 1L 30gtts/min.

◦ MACROSET (ADULT)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION x 15 gtts/ml

1gtt/min x 60 min/hr

=1000 ml x 15 gtts/ml
30gtt/min x 60 min/hr
= 15000
1800 hr
= 8hrs
Hours to run=8hrs
EXAMPLE
◦2. How many hours to run in administering 0.9NaCl 1L 40gtts/min.

◦ MACROSET (ADULT)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 15 gtts/ml

1gtt/min x 60 min/hr

=1000 ml x 15 gtts/ml
40gtt/min x 60 min/hr
= 15000
2400 hr
=6 hrs

Hours to run=6hrs
EXAMPLE
◦1. How many hours to run in administering PLR 1L 40gtts/min.

◦ MICROSET (PEDIA)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 60gtts/ML

1gtt/min x 60 min/hr

= 500 ml x 60 gtts/ml
40gtt/min x 60 min/hr
= 30,000
2400 hr
=12 hrs

Hours to run=12 hrs

EXAMPLE
2. How many hours to run in administering 0.3 NaCl 500ml 60 gtts/min.

◦ MICROSET (PEDIA)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 60gtts/ML

1gtt/min x 60 min/hr

= 500 ml x 60 gtts/ml
40gtt/min x 60 min/hr
= 30,000
36000 hr
=8hrs

Hours to run=8 hrs

DROP RATE COMPUTATION
❑ MACROSET (ADULT)

=VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 15 gtts/ml

hrs to run x 60 min/hr

❑ MICROSET (PEDIA)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 60gtts/ml

hrs to run x 60 min/hr
 Example:
◦1. Calculate the gtts/min to run in administering D5NM 1L for 8
hours.
❑ MACROSET (ADULT)

=VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 15 gtts/ml

hrs to run x 60 min/hr
=1000ml x 15 gtts/ml
8hrs x 60 min/hr
= 15000
480
=30gtts/min
 Example:
◦1. Calculate the gtts/min to run in administering D5 LR 500mL for 12 hours.

❑ MICROSET (PEDIA)

VOLUME OF SOLUTION X 60gtts/ml

hrs to runx 60 min/hr
=500ml x 60 gtts/ml
12hrs x 60 min/hr
= 30,000
720
=40 gtts/min
IV Cannula
◦An IV cannula is a technique that is utilized in order
to place a cannula into a vein in order to provide
some form of venous access.
◦This sort of access will allow medical professionals
to get a blood sample, as well as infusing fluids to
the patient to avoid dehydration and at the same
time, providing vital nutrients, medications,
chemotherapy and other transfusion.
 The Importance of Selecting the Right
Gauge
◦The reason it’s important to use the right gauge is because
some nursing procedures can only be done with a
particular sized needle. For example, if you have a patient
who needs to have his or her blood drawn, you’ll want to
go with a gauge large enough to do it.
◦Therefore, whenever you start an IV on a patient, you
want to ask yourself what type of procedures your patient
will be having while in your care.
Common uses for the different gauge sizes
• 16 Gauge: This size is mostly used in the ICU or surgery areas. This large size
enables many different procedures to be performed, such as blood administration,
rapid fluid administration, and so forth.
• 18 Gauge: This size allows you to do most tasks that the 16 gauge can, but
it large and more painful to the patient. Some of the common uses include
administering blood, pushing fluids rapidly, etc.
• 20 Gauge: This size is better for patients with smaller veins.
• 22 Gauge: This small size is good for when patient’s won’t need an IV long and
aren’t critically ill
• 24 Gauge: This size is used for pediatrics and is usually only used as a last
resort as an IV in the adult population.
Different Types of IV Gauge Needles
✔No classes:
❑May 23, 2022 (Monday)
❑ Review for the long quiz

✔LONG QUIZ
❑May 25, 2022 (Wednesday)
❑Reported topics
❑From group 1-6
❑How to make SOAPIE

✔FINAL EXAM
❑MAY 30, 2022 (Monday)
❑Type of exam: Board type questions (Multiple choice)
❑Coverage: Comprehensive